HB488

SECTION 1. Federally qualified health centers are located in medically underserved communities and serve medically underserved populations.

Among the federally qualified health centers in Hawaii, there are health centers which are either located in communities with a large percentage of Hawaiian homesteads, or a large percentage of native Hawaiians, or both. The role of these centers is especially important in addressing the poor health statistics experienced by native Hawaiians.

The federal Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act identifies a native Hawaiian health center as an entity:

(1) Which is organized under the laws of the State of Hawaii;

(2) Which provides or arranges for health care services through practitioners licensed by the State of Hawaii, where licensure requirements are applicable;

(3) Which is a public or nonprofit private entity; and

(4) In which native Hawaiian health practitioners significantly participate in the planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation of health services.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a State designation of native Hawaiian health centers. The criteria for designation as a native Hawaiian health center shall follow that of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act, Title 42 United States Code Sections 11701-11714.

SECTION 2. Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§321- Native Hawaiian health center; State designation. (a) A native Hawaiian health center shall be designated as an entity:

(1) Which is organized under the laws of the State of Hawaii;

(2) Which provides or arranges for health care services through practitioners licensed by the State of Hawaii, where licensure requirements are applicable;

(3) Which is a public or nonprofit private entity; and

(4) In which native Hawaiian health practitioners significantly participate in the planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation of health services.

(b) The director of health, in consultation and collaboration with Papa Ola Lokahi, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of designating native Hawaiian health centers."

SECTION 3. Until such time as there is a sovereign Hawaiian nation recognized by the United States and the State of Hawaii, the department of health shall coordinate with Papa Ola Lokahi to oversee the designation of native Hawaiian health centers.

The department of health shall follow the criteria, where practical, set by the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act, Title 42 United States Code Sections 11701-11714.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for the development and establishment of a State-recognized designation of native Hawaiian health centers.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	488
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII